Serum Uric Acid Laboratory Test Request Patterns in Primary Care: How Panels May Contribute to Overutilization and Treatment of Asymptomatic Patients

Background: To study the variability in the request of serum uric acid (SUA) in primary care. Method: A cross-sectional study was designed and conducted at a main core laboratory. Spanish laboratories were invited to report their number of serum glucose (SG) and SUA tests requested from primary care...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Salinas M, López-Garrigós M, Flores E, Leiva-Salinas C
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunitat Valenciana (FISABIO)
Repositorio:r-FISABIO. Repositorio Institucional de Producción Científica
OAI Identifier:oai:fisabio.fundanetsuite.com:p3550
Acceso en línea:https://fisabio.portalinvestigacion.com/publicaciones/3550
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:serum uric acid
appropriateness
laboratory
primary care
request profiles
patient safety
Descripción
Sumario:Background: To study the variability in the request of serum uric acid (SUA) in primary care. Method: A cross-sectional study was designed and conducted at a main core laboratory. Spanish laboratories were invited to report their number of serum glucose (SG) and SUA tests requested from primary care during 2014. A survey was sent to every participant in November 2016 regarding the inclusion of SUA in order profiles/panels. The ratio of SUA/SG requests (SUA/SG) was calculated and compared between regions, and laboratories depending on whether SUA was included or not in a health check profile. Results: 110 laboratories participated in the study (59.8% Spanish population). The median SUA/SG ratio was 0.82 (IQR: 0.25), and 41 laboratories had a ratio over 0.9. There was a significant regional variability (P =.008). Laboratories where SUA was not included in the "health check profile" had lower SUA/SG indicators (P =.003). Conclusion: There was significant regional variability in the request of SUA, and an overall over-request. Different regional customs or habits and the inclusion of SUA in the health check profile were probable causes behind the observed over-request.